Los Alamos County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Los Alamos County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Homelessness and social services data
Council discussion revealed the county helps 8-12 unhoused residents directly, but estimates 50-60 people lack stable housing. Section 8 waitlists are closed and regional housing staff have been cut, making placements harder.
Police Station Lion Sculpture Progress
The board picked the sphinx-pose lion design and will ask Council to commission artist Daniel Borup for up to $75,000. A radial wall and possible benches are planned behind the sculpture at the memorial site.
Suicide Prevention Training in Los Alamos County
State data show 6.8% of Los Alamos 10th graders report having considered or attempted suicide, just below the 8.4% state average. The state is offering free, evidence-based school programs and an app for teens, and pushing to get prevention training into schools.
Gas odorant surge and leak response
After a bad traffic day on 502, business owners and residents are asking what the evacuation plan actually is. Staff noted Rendija Canyon Road has been rebuilt yearly as a backup evacuation route.
Region 1 behavioral health investment (SB3)
Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and Santa Fe counties held their first kickoff meeting on building regional behavioral health services, starting with transportation to facilities like the Espanola CCBHC.
Wildfire Preparedness and Ready Set Go
Councilor Hemez reported on a tabletop exercise at Santo Domingo Pueblo testing tribal community readiness for concurrent wildfire smoke and heat. Gaps included air-quality monitoring and community notification systems. Council members discussed whether Los Alamos should build similar heat/air-quality tracking into its 2027 work plan.
Suicide prevention awareness
Los Alamos has trained only 107 people in naloxone use in 18 months versus 8,000+ in Rio Arriba, and distributed just 617 free doses. The state wants to partner locally to break the stigma of asking for help.
Jemez Mountain Fire Protection Phase III
DPU is selling water to support firefighting staged at the airport, and a FEMA procurement rejection on the Jemez Mountain fire protection wire has forced a do-over and temporary overhead power feeds so snowmaking pumps can start in November.
Fire Station No. 4 Replacement
The Council approved issuing up to $35 million in bonds, paid back from gross receipts tax revenue, to fix and improve Fire Station 4 and other fire safety facilities and public buildings. This keeps emergency response infrastructure in the county up to date without raising property taxes.
Automated Speed Enforcement
Staff showed seven years of crash data — Los Alamos has roughly a third of the state's crash rate, but bicycle crashes run slightly above the state average. Council members pushed for faster, cheaper fixes like bollards, removing parking that blocks crosswalk sight lines on Central Avenue, and formal adoption of a Vision Zero-style policy.
Ski Hill FEMA grant and wildfire protection
The council approved a FEMA grant on a 25/75 county split totaling about $3.9 million to bury electric lines on Ski Hill Road, reducing wildfire risk. The grant had been held up for a long time before final re-approval.
Fireworks ban during severe drought
With the whole county in severe drought, fireworks use and sales are restricted for 30 days — covering the Fourth of July — to reduce wildfire risk.
Gifted and twice-exceptional youth mental health
Gifted kids who aren't identified can face bullying, anxiety, substance abuse, and worse — and private testing can cost $3,000, making identification a socioeconomic equity issue. The council discussed parent support groups (SENG) and universal testing as fixes.
Summer snack food drive for food-insecure kids
After November's SNAP benefits lapse, libraries report kids and teens still asking for food daily. The council backed a quick snack-food drive timed for summer, when free school meals disappear.
May 8 townsite power outage
A failed underground cable near the aquatic center plus a protective relay left on wrong settings blacked out the entire townsite for about 90 minutes. Crews fixed four damage points overnight and corrected the relay settings; relays are due for inspection once the new switching station is energized.